Abiding In Christ: The Tree & The Roots

To abide in Christ is to be rooted in Him, not as a leaf or a branch but as a root. A leaf can be pruned when it is overgrown. But a root is always there. A leaf can be easily torn off from the branch. Likewise a branch can be torn off from the tree. But a root is grown into the soil.

Unless we reject Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, the root can not be torn out.

When we live in the world, the storms and winds will blow at the tree and we will see many changes in our circumstances. But if we hold on to our salvation in Christ, we shall not be moved. That salvation is in the faith of our Spirit man, holding on to Jesus our Saviour and Helper. He will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear to the extent that we lose our salvation through disobedience and living a sinful life. It is said adulterers, fornicators, homosexuals and liars will not enter into the Kingdom of God.

The root of the tree is our will interwined with our faith to hold on to Jesus, our God. But if we willingly allow the winds or some gardener to pull out the root, then we shall be responsible for the loss of our salvation.

Like a ship that is unanchored without a sail, it will sail into unknown waters and we shall meet an unwholesome end, an eternal death.

Jesus provides a way out of our storms, He provides a way out of our deepest crises, He is our Counseler and our Helper at all times. God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. His nature is love, mercy and grace.

We who abide in His nature and take on the vessel of Christ, we will not have anything to do with inequity, with quarrels and worldly pleasures.

Man is made for communion with God, his creator. But if he decides to commune solely with his fellow beings without reference to His Creator, he is like a soldier without a general, a ship without a compass, a plane without a radar.

Man is made body, soul and spirit. The soul is both the mind and the emotions. And that is the point where Satan attacks us: by speaking lies and half-truths into our minds so as to influence our emotions. Eventually, if we listen and believe in satan's voice and lies, we shall act in ways that dishonour and displease God. We will not be counted worthy of our salvation.

And that is where the devil boasts of his half-won victory. He shall point out to God and the whole world, saying: "Look here! Here is a man who was once saved but just look at him now: sinning and lying like no one's business, pretending to repent for a while and then going back into sin. Why should such a man be worthy to be saved and enter Heaven? Isnt he a poor example of God's mercy if he can just repent before he dies and enter Heaven?"

This is a serious accusation that seeks to besmirch and stain the reputation and grace of God. It is like the devious snake in the garden of Eden who told Eve that she will be like God if she ate the fruit from the forbidden tree.